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Difficulty: MediumTraffic Officer Signals and Temporary Control Devices

You are approaching a four-way intersection where the overhead signal displays a steady red light. A police officer stationed in the center of the intersection explicitly gestures for your line of traffic to move forward. What action must you take?

  1. Proceed through the intersection as directed by the police officer, despite the steady red light.Answer
  2. B
    Remain stopped at the intersection line until the signal light turns green, ignoring the officer's gestures.
  3. C
    Come to a full stop and treat the intersection as a flashing red light, yielding to all cross traffic before moving.
  4. D
    Make an immediate right-turn maneuver to bypass both the red light and the officer's position.

Answer

Proceed through the intersection as directed by the police officer, despite the steady red light.
Manual directions from a uniformed traffic officer or police officer take legal precedence over automated electronic signals, signs, and road markings. When an officer motions drivers to proceed, drivers must follow the officer's signal regardless of what the traffic light displays.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the hierarchy of traffic control devices and official authority.
Directions given by a traffic officer or police officer supersede all electronic traffic signals, regulatory signs, and pavement markings.
Traffic officers direct traffic manually during emergencies, congestion, or signal malfunctions to maintain safety and flow.
2
Apply the authority hierarchy to the given scenario.
The officer's hand gesture to move forward overrides the steady red overhead signal light.
Drivers are legally obligated to obey an officer's hand signals over static or automated controls.

Key Concept

Traffic Officer Signal Authority Priority
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Topics

Traffic Officer Signals and Temporary Control Devices

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